Google Plus (aka Google+) launched as a trial 3 months ago but was only open to people who had received an invite. Even so, over 25 million people joined in the first month alone – 20 times quicker than any other social networking site ever managed.
Today Google+ officially went public – so anyone can now join.One key feature that has been missing until now is the ability to search Google+ but this has now been added:
“Just type what you’re looking for into the Google+ search box, and we’ll return relevant people and posts, as well as popular content from around the web. If you’re into photography, for example, then you’ll see other enthusiasts and lots of great pictures. If you care more about cooking, then you’ll see other chefs and food from around the globe. In all cases, Google+ search results include items that only you can see, so family updates are just as easy to find as international news.”
It has also enabled video ‘hangouts’ – allowing people to talk (via video) in groups on mobile phones. ‘Hangouts’ may be publicly broadcast – a useful way to broadcast live content from an event.
- You must be at least 18 to join and you will need a Google account – many people will already have one from using Gmail or Picasa etc.
- Simply visit the Google+ site here and sign in with your Google account – or create a new one.
- If you are undecided and want to see an interactive demo of the main features – take the tour here.
Note: unlike Facebook and Twitter you must use your real name as your Profile name in Google+ to prevent anonymous usage. Similarly, there is no facility yet to create a profile for a business. Do check the Google+ profile name standards here – if you don’t follow them your account may be suspended or deleted.
The Future For Google+
Will Google+ ever knock Facebook off its perch as the dominant social network for sharing information among friends, family and others? Or is it just yet another way of wasting time that could otherwise be spent doing something more productive 
What do you think – yea or nay?
Yea – I like the privacy features more than Facebook who seem not to care about security and privacy. And being able to post to different groups rather than everyone is a godsend